# What TV show has the best theme music? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2001, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848 "2001-01-13T11:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Palandine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/958977/32.png) [@Palandine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palandine)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/41 "2001-01-14T19:22:54Z")
I second **Star Trek Voyager**. I don’t much care for the show (compared with all the other Star Treks), but I love the theme. That, and the CGI shots of Voyager in the opening credits, are the best thing about the show. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/42 "2001-01-14T19:50:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scratch1300 \* > \*\*Anyone remember the music to _The Prisoner_? \*\* Yeah, I do. First one I thought of. Very mid/late '60s in style, with lots of trombone and electric guitar. I love it, but I think it has more to do with the fact that I’m {rubbing hands with glee} _about to watch THE PRISONER_ than ewith the actual quality of the music itself. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/43 "2001-01-14T20:43:38Z")
I only flip to **Norm** (the Norm MacDonald show) is to catch the cool theme song. The rest of the show is trash. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/44 "2001-01-14T20:53:18Z")
Inspector Gadget. Cordially, Myron M. Meyer The Man Who ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/45 "2001-01-14T23:34:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilgore Trout \* > \*\*fat albert. > \*\* I agree. Ever hear Dig’s cover of it, from the fine album “Saturday Morning Cartoons’ Greatest Hits”? I highly recommend the entire album. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/46 "2001-01-14T23:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oldscratch \* > \*\*pfft… > no contest… what so ever > **The A-Team** \*\* Yes, oldscratch you beat me to it. No theme music could surpass that of **The A-Team**. Simply no debate about it. Also, might I just add, that the theme music for **Doogie Howser M.D.** BLEW! ---
**Author:** ![Seen\_to\_it\_already](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Seen\_to\_it\_already](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seen_to_it_already)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/47 "2001-01-15T00:11:16Z")
I loved it when The Simpson’s had Homer singing like it was The Flintstones. “Simpsons, we’re the Simpsons. We’re a yaba daba family. From the Town of Springfield …” What a gas! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/48 "2001-01-15T00:15:01Z")
The original _Tomorrow People_ The Peter Davison (5th Doctor) _Dr Who_ _Follyfoot_ “Lightning Tree” _Jamie and the Magic Torch_ _Knight Rider_ _Battlestar Galactica_ _Barney Miller_ _EastEnders_ Original _Batman Animated_ with Danny Elfman theme from the movie And tons more. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/49 "2001-01-15T02:00:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seen to it already \* > \*\*I loved it when The Simpson’s had Homer singing like it was The Flintstones. > “Simpsons, we’re the Simpsons. > We’re a yaba daba family. > From the > Town of Springfield > …” > > What a gas! \*\* Not trying to be a jerk here, Seen, but I’m anal when it comes to the simpsons, the true lyrics are “Simpson, Homer Simpson I’m the greatest guy in history From the, town of Springfield I’m about to hit a chestnut tree!” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/50 "2001-01-15T05:20:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*“Believe It Or Not,” from _The Greatest American Hero_. > > (Watch most everyone else go, "From _what?_) > \*\* Oh, no! Not at all! Awesome show. I can still sing the entire theme song. I loved it too! ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/51 "2001-01-15T05:32:20Z")
No one has said Sesame Street yet? Great song, and instantly recognizable. Well, maybe I’m the only one who collects Sesame Street mp3s. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Armageddon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mister\_Armageddon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Armageddon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/52 "2001-01-15T06:00:58Z")
No one’s mentioned Futurama yet? Huh. Definitely one of my favorites, along with Batman Beyond. Also, Neon Genesis Evangelion has a great opening theme, although it’s probably not one many people have heard. Do a search for “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” on Napster if you haven’t, because it’s great. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/53 "2001-01-15T06:38:11Z")
Seems there is a high correlation between great TV shows and great music for it. In terms of star power and sheer amount, no show can match the music of _Miami Vice_. Even the drug dealer’s theme songs hit the top 10. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/54 "2001-01-15T10:02:06Z")
If you can’t translate a theme into an instantly recognisable mobile phone ringer-tune, then it’s not a great success. Waltons - good Miami Vice - bad Muppets - good That 70s Show - bad See? It works. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/55 "2001-01-15T13:53:53Z")
[ul] [li]The incidental music for the original “Star Trek” was great.[/li][li]“ST:Voyager”'s theme music[/li][li]“ER”'s theme. You can’t dance to it, but it’s so intensely dramatic.[/li][/ul] A little TV music trivia: I once heard my wife watching TV downstairs. From the sound of the music, I thought she was watching the old “Batman” show, which is totally not her style. But when I came downstairs, it turns out she was watching an “Emergency!” marathon. I looked up credits on the IMDb: sure enough, both shows had two music composers the same: Billy May and Nelson Riddle. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/56 "2001-01-15T13:59:12Z")
Another vote for Star Trek: Voyager. The Borg music is my favorite(surprise). I also like the Red Dwarf music. “It’s cold outside, there’s no kind of atmosphere . . .” ---
**Author:** ![doc\_miller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@doc\_miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc_miller)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/57 "2001-01-15T14:42:28Z")
I cant believe neither _The Rockford Files_ nor _Bonanza_ have been mentioned yet. Scott ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/58 "2001-01-15T17:04:44Z")
Anyone remember the following…? The march from _Colditz_ _Blake’s Seven_ _The Omega Factor_ (OK, that’s probably obscure. It was the BBC’s answer to the X files, except it came out in about 1980, ran for ten episodes, and was never seen again. Nice high-energy-spooky theme, though) Auntie Beeb also did a great adaptation of _Dracula_, with some very nice sensual/creepy incidental music. But I’m afraid the best ever theme tune title just has to go to… _Thunderbirds_! Yay! Barry Gray _rules_! ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/59 "2001-01-15T17:23:06Z")
Man, some body beat to my Miami Vice. “Hogan’s Heroes” I love that song. It really fit the show. Serious sounding german music followed by “fun” type music. The other one has got to be the “Rat Patrol” theme. And you can’t forget old “…This is story about a man named Brady…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bad\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Hat)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848/60 "2001-01-15T21:35:25Z")
I’ll go along with Sanford and Son, but also add in Millenium, which I don’tthink I saw in there. It was Mark Snow’s music (who also does X-files) but was darker and subtler than the Xfiles. He’s an oboe player so you get a lot of oboe themes along with the chilly atmospherics, very cool stuff. MASH, too. and Twilight Zone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-show-has-the-best-theme-music/49848.md?page=4)